Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Got Liver? (Re-post)

This is a plea for help.
My dear friend and partner of almost ten years, Jesse Bannister, has been finally properly diagnosed with Nonalchoholic Steatohepatitis with Cirrhosis of the Liver meaning he will need a transplant.
He has been to many doctors in the last 2 years and not one has made a proper diagnosis till recently. He lost his job due to illness last November and tried to do real estate, became an agent, and then became too ill to work. Things came to a head when I finally ask him to go to the hospital after his 40th birthday, June 28th. That was in early July when he finally went to his sister's in another town and she took him the next day. I don't blame him for not going here, as we have a hospital with a notorious reputation.

The picture above is the one he chose for his real estate image. The picture below is the most current one. He told me he wants to live and has become very disciplined about his diet and already has lost almost 100 pounds. His goal wieght is 175 and he's at 198. He's has had an eating disorder all his life which along with genetics contributed to his condition.



So here's the plea.
Jesse, "Buck", needs a transplant. The doctor told him he had only a few weeks to live had he not gone for treatment.

Unfortunately, he cannot receive the transplant workup or be put on the transplant list unless he has some sort of health coverage such as Medicare and/or Medicaid or can show an ability to pay the costs of the workup and surgery.
Because the agencies are taking so long to make a determination we are requesting help from family, friends and their contacts. Besides having to raise money to insure his transplant workup gets done as soon as possible he needs to cover the several thousand dollars he already owes for his treatment. Since he has no income his care, treatment, and the cost of medicines have to be covered by family members or received on credit. Every day he goes without the workup and his name on the transplant list is a day that he may have missed an opportunity for a new liver.

Even with Medicare and/or Medicaid the out of pockets costs will be enormous. These will include things like immunosuppressive drugs, hotel expenses for family members to be close during the surgery and recovery, as well as hospital and doctor expenses not covered by the insurance.

You can learn more about Buck at his blog, Got Liver?
There is information there on how you can help financially if you would like to.
Thank you also for your kind thoughts and encouragement.

Link on Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Link to Cirrhosis


Thanks so much. me in the EE

3 comments:

Michael Emmanuel said...

Was out today on the afternoon route selling raffle tickets and putting out donation jars. Amazing how nice alot of people are! If papers had not been so late, as usual any more, I would have done alot more selling but the raffle is not till 9/30 so I have a while yet. If you want to donate please read Buck's site for info about making a paypal contribution. Any good thing done is done forever and the reward follows therefrom forever. Think about it, what is IS and always was and always will be-- align yourself with goodness and what is, that is to say align yourself with yourself. Turn not any those who come seeking and you have entertained angels thereby, Peace.

Michael Emmanuel said...

UPDATE:Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for their generous donations of food, condiments, money, and yard sale items for the Benefit on Saturday.

We raised about $600 (actually a little more) and have enough stuff left over that we're going to do the yard sale again this weekend!

You all really helped so much and came through at the 11th hour for us.

In the "Good News" department, I received word over the weekend that my Social Security Disability had been approved! My benefits should start this month. I've faxed all the documents to my Case Mgr., Julie, at Self Regional and she's going to follow up with the Medicaid and Medicare for me. Dr. Bachinski says that the minute I get the insurance cards in hand to send a copy to him and he'll dictate a letter and send my records to MUSC for the transplant workup! Whoo Hoo!

You are each such a blessing and without your prayers and love I'm sure I'd still be waiting on SS and the insurance. My sister calls you all my "Prayer Warriors" - I've never liked the violent imagery associated with "warrior" so I call you my "Million Blessings". My list this Thanksgiving will be very long... what a wonderful thing!

May each of you be blessed as you go about your day and always remember that your generosity is repaid threefold times three.

Much Love and Thanks,

Buck

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Hebrews 13:2
P.S. Don't forget to send me your recipes!

If you would like to send recipes check out Buck's website link at ths post. Money and prayers are always nice, kind thoughts come nack to you. I say any good thing done is done forever and the reward follows therefrom forever.

me

Anonymous said...

If you'd like to send a recipe, you can send it to: liver4buck@yahoo.com